Expert: Fabio Anderle - 6/24/2008

Question
I have a child's small basketball that I inherited that has several Celtic autographs on it including, John Havlichek, Don Nelson, JoJo White, Kevin Stacom and many others.  I'm trying to find Celtuic rosters so I can compare the roster against the signatures I have.  I'm trying to figure out its (the ball with autographs) value and would appreciate any direction you can provide.

Answer
Hi, Peter,

the four players you mentioned were part of the Boston Celtics' roster in the Seventies. But since Kevin Stacom played for the Green from 1974 to 1978 and Don Nelson retired in 1976 (Havlicek called it quits in 1978, Jo Jo White was traded in 1979), we can roughly "place" your ball in a span of time between 1974 and 1976.
So, the rosters for those two seasons were:

1974-'75 Boston Celtics: Jo Jo White, Don Chaney, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Don Nelson, Phil Hankinson, Kevin Stacom, Hank Finkel, Glenn McDonald, Steve Downing, Ben Clyde, Jim Ard, Paul Silas, Paul Westphal.

1975-'76 Boston Celtics: Jo Jo White, Charlie Scott, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Don Nelson, Kevin Stacom, Glenn McDonald, Tom Boswell, Ed Searcy, Steve Kuberski, Jim Ard, Paul Silas, Jerome Anderson.

I am sure that now you will be able to figure out what Celtics team signed your basketball, and of course if it is the 1976 team it will be even more valuable since those Celtics won the NBA title.



Fabio